“Zazen is atonement for the act of living. Just to be alive is to split the universe in two.” - Dave Cuomo
Hello Sangha!
Rain is pouring from the skies of Los Angeles, and between our ongoing ango and usual full schedule of Zen, we can confidently say we are absolutely drenched in dharma over here. Like, in addition to our usual Saturday Sit & Talk, we’ve got Zen Writing Workshop (Saturday 3/15) at 1pm as a perfect way to give your creative side some airtime, whether you call yourself a writer or not. Combining creative prompts with friendly like-minded folks, AND zazen, we can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
And then Sunday night at 7 pm is our monthly Full Moon Ceremony! Where we say a few apologies, chant the precepts, and remember why they were such good advice in the first place. Some say it’s the loveliest Zen ceremony in the canon, but we think that’s for you to decide. So come on out and let’s find out.
Also! We are looking for a few friendly volunteers to help bottom line sits here at ACZC. In addition to helping us keep this place presentable, we’ll teach you to make our famous Herbal Tea Blend™️ and altar rounds, among other fun and functional things (aka work practice!). If you have the time, it’s a nice thing to do for your sangha. Shoot us a note if you’re interested.
And speaking of the bottom line (or lack thereof), this week on the podcast we are very pleased to bring you Frenemies (Zero Sum Thinking) w/Dave Cuomo. Dave dives into the Zen of zero sum thinking and the truth of an “us vs. them” mindset through scenes from his wayward youth. Is there such a thing as being a good guy? How do we practice discernment in a world where no one is separate from anyone else? And can or should we really wish happiness for people when their joy is making the rest of us miserable?? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
How about some ZenLit(™) for the week?
Buddha had Rahula ring the bell, and then asked, “Do you hear?”
Ananda and the sangha said, “We hear.”
When the bell stopped ringing, Buddha asked again, “Now do you hear?”
Ananda and the sangha, “We don’t.”
Buddha had Rahula ring the bell again and asked Ananda, “Is there sound?”
Ananda and the sangha said, “There is sound.”
After awhile the sound faded away and Buddha asked, “Is there sound now?”
Ananda and the sangha said, “There’s no sound.”
Buddha said to Ananda and the sangha, “Why do you say such confusing things??”
Ananda and the sangha asked, “How are we confusing?”
Buddha said, “I asked if you heard, you said you heard. I asked if there was sound, you said there was sound. You don’t see any difference between sound and hearing! How is that not confused? When the sound faded away, if it was true that you were not hearing, your hearing ability would have died. Like a withered tree you would never hear the sound of a bell again. Sounds come and go, but how could your hearing come and go?”
This Week in Zen! All times posted in Pacific time zone, all sessions hosted in person and on Zoom unless otherwise marked (email us for quick and easy Zoom access info):
Saturday - 3/15, 10am - 12:30pm
Sit & Talk w/Chris Arnett
Our biggest day of the week! Two half hour rounds of zazen and then our dear Canadian friend Chris returns to see what Zen has to say about dealing with our inner critic and other unpleasant voices in our head. Join us and find out! (Also! All Saturdays during our ango period now include a full half day of activities, including extra zazen at 7am and chanting of the Ryogon Shu (see below)! )
Saturday - 3/15, 1pm - 4pm
Zen Writing Workshop - Meditation, free writes, readings, reaction/reflections, and found poetry all created spontaneously in a judgement free zone. All experience levels welcome (including none at all), no prewritten work required (as a structured group event, we do ask people to be on time for this one please).
Sunday - 3/16, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Full Moon Ceremony - Join us for a short and sweet half hour of zazen before the lyrical and melodious Ryaku Fusatsu, where we slough off our regrets and recite the precepts and some great intentions under the Blood Worm Moon. All are welcome!
Monday - 3/17, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/Sara Campbell - One half hour of that sweet sweet zazen and then our resident trainee takes the hotseat to report back on her inquiry into how one can work on behalf of all beings while taking care of oneself. Should be easy, right? Join us and let’s find out!
Wednesday - 3/19, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & ZenLit Night - Dave’s going to ring a bell and we see if we can find our true selves somewhere in the “wah wah.” See y’all there!
Thursday - 3/20, 7:30pm - 8:40pm
Evening Zazen - Join us for the newest addition to our schedule with two rounds of serene evening sitting to wind down your day (and week!), and maybe even go a little deep. We’ll see y’all there.
Friday - 3/21, 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week! We chant the Heart Sutra in English followed by Straw Hut Song, Shitou’s ode to relaxing and doing your own thing. Great poetry! Come on out and lend us your voice.
Tuesday - Friday, 7am - 8am
Morning Sit - One simple hour of what we do best - just sitting. Optional five minute stretch break offered in the middle.
Tuesday - Saturday - Morning Ango Schedule
As always feel free to join for as much or as little of the schedule as you’re able.
6:30 - 7:00am………………Silent Coffee (optional)
7:00 - 8:10am………………Zazen & Kinhin
8:10 - 8:40am………………Chanting
8:40 - 9:10am…………..…Zen Breakfast
9:10 - 9:50am………………Work Practice
See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC